Free exhibition to mark art society's 110th birthday

Portsmouth and Hampshire Art Society, which was founded by Portsmouth resident and maritime artist W L Wyllie, will be displaying artwork from its 150 members at Portsmouth Anglican Cathedral, in High Street, Southsea, until Wednesday, August 7.Eileen Brooks, treasurer of the society, said the show was a way to ‘bring together’ the Portsmouth art community, which can often feel ‘like a series of villages’. She said: ‘We want to put on a show that does a good job maintaining the tradition of the society. ‘There is not really a central arts website for the creative community in Portsmouth. ‘The creation of the Hot Walls Studios has been a huge improvement for the community. ‘But we are still like a series of villages, rather than one community.’The exhibition is sponsored by the Southsea Gallery, in Albert Road, and the White Dog Gallery, in Milvil Court, Lee-on-the-Solent, with both offering prizes for the best artwork as chosen by the society’s members and visitors. All artwork on display is for sale, with prices ranging from £20 to more than £400. One of the featured artists, Barbara Hamilton, from Gosport, agreed that the show was vital for helping people discover their creative side. She said: 'There are community events that encourage people to do art, but you do really need to look in order to find them.‘You need to start talking to people – and the show and the society is a good way to do that.’ Eileen hopes the show will encourage more children and teenagers to become involved through the society’s junior membership, which currently has no members. She said: ‘We definitely want to encourage more young people to become members and take up art.’Membership of the society costs £20 a year, and grants artists access to weekly workshops and monthly demos. Workshops are held on Tuesdays at Mary Rose School, in Gisors Road, with the artist Jo Louca leading the next session on Tuesday, September 24.